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SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT

1836,) and Godart's elaborate articles in the Encyclopédic Méthodique.

It is not intended to enter into the general history of the Lepidopterous order in this place, because three volumes of our entomological series have already been occupied with it, and it is not desirable to encroach further on the space requisite for the elucidation of the orders we have not touched upon elsewhere. It is contemplated, moreover, to add another volume relating to this order, comprehending the history of exotic moths and hawk-moths, which will afford an opportunity of supplying what it may be further thought requisite to say on the subject.


Order VIII.—Strepsiptera.

This singular order, composed of a few minute parasitical species, was established by Kirby, and it corresponds to what has since been named Rhipiptera by Latreille, and Rhipidoptera by Lamarck. The insects are extremely anomalous, insomuch that Latreille, on examining one of them, exclaims, "animal prorsus singulare, animum excrucians!" It is difficult to trace their natural affinities, from the imperfect structure of the mouth, and a greater number must be examined with anatomical precision, before we can be certain with regard to the position they ought to occupy in the series. In the synoptical table on page 200, it is stated that they have two wings, and this character, in connexion with the form